New whif project.............Operational F-108 Rapier

[General Melchet]

Hi chaps, got a couple of what-if's on the go at the mo, latest being this, the Anigrand F-108 Rapier. One of their earlier kits it suffers from all the usual Anigrand trademarks, air bubbles, broken parts, poor fit, nothing that can't be fixed and let's face it , who else will be making one of these any time soon!!, (other than the horrendously expensive and massive 1/48th Collect-Aire resin monster).
Saying that the kit is basically accurate though has one or two odd details such as slightly staggered main legs, undersized J-93 exhausts, and incorrect fusaelage to body attachment angle, (being far too 'kinked ', (easily sanded back to correct angle). Also you may notice I've completely re done the intakes in plasticard, with new ramps and intake bleed doors.
This model is rather large, roughly Vigilante sized and looks impressive once sorted out. This one will have a couple of AIM-47's added, cockpit open and undercarriage bays fully detailed.
I didn't like the original kits exhausts which were undersized so replaced them with set pinched from a Condor MiG 25, with new nozzle detail they look more representative of the bins that were slated for its use with the uprated J-93 GE 4 engines.
I just had to get one of these for to go with the B-70 as it was as I'm sure you all know designed to be it's escort on longe range interdictor strike missions.This one will be finished in ADC grey and fitted out with markings from the 16th FIS based at Naha with it's neat checker board tail markings, ala F-102.
Progress has been a bit slow of late due to more pressing projects for SMW but hopefully it will be finished in the near future. Should be appearing in a magazine review when completed if all goes to plan !!..

Cheers now,

Andy














































 

[nev]

*grabs a cup of tea and a biccie, pulls up a chair and settles down to watch*

I have this kit, which I still intend to build in ADC Grey and Oregon ANG markings one day....but it will be nice to watch the master at work first

OGL also built this a few years back as I recall.

[General Melchet]

Thanks fellas,
Dunc, I'm only doing it to get you to hurry up and build yours !!

Neil, thanks,

ADC Grey and Oregon ANG

....nice choice...can't beat the ADC schemes, (in my 'umble opinion)!, though a lot of pressure has been applied to do an RAF one !!...I'm going to resist for now....however later on is a different thing entirely .
This one might take a while as it slots into the production line..

[Sauragnmon]

She's quite a nice looking beastie that's for sure.  I gotta admit, I'm liking those lines, just not the price tag.

Keep it up, man!

[General Melchet]

I'm going as fast as I can.....

Here's a few more shots, sorry they aren't top quality, bit rushed, (no flash as everything was washed out !!,)..

First the intake spliters and VG ramps that are very evident on the real thing( well mock up anyway),








Next a head on showing the angle of the wings ( which isn't even mentioned in the very basic instructions!!)....I used steel rods, plasticard and quick drying Zap-A-Gap plus accelerator to ensure a safe stable wing to fuselage join....there are no locating points in the kit...you just butt the surfaces...Thanks but no thanks!!!!!.........well it is Anigrand..
Is it me or are there shades of F-14 from this angle!!









Next, rear end and new pipes, ( from Condor Foxbat)...exactly the correct diameter and length , according to my sources. shades of Avro Arrow !!........................much better!!








And two shots just to annoy Duncan.....

Both projects now running parallel.........................INCOMING!!!!

[General Melchet]

Dunc, I'm keeping the 1121 RAF, not sure on scheme yet, all the ones I've seen built tend to be camo with blue/red roundels or gloss camo and red/white/blue so I am thinking of something different, maybe even Hawker sky house colours as prototype like my P1083, not sure yet!!..this is an original issue Maintrack vac BTW.....

As for the Rapier, Edwards is a good choice , colourful bird, look forward to seeing it done.......after the '99 of course..

[Sauragnmon]

Damn, that rapier looks absolutely awesome.  I agree, shades of a lot of aircraft in there - Arrow, Tomcat (the stooped wings give that) and Eagle (the side intakes down the nose - a little taller and they'd look Eagle-esque).

I agree on butting vs pinning - I don't think I would have trusted a butt joint either, not on something like resin, not on a narrow gap like those wings, that's asking for them to pop later.  I did a butt join on the bridge for my N3, but when it came to the stack, I didn't trust the flat join and pinned it instead just for the extra measure.

The 1121 looks interesting - if you want a change, you could give it SEAC markings, if you could draft up a backstory to match it, it'd change off the red and blue roundels.  The Rapier might look wicked given a smooth paint like Have Glass effect, or one of the Mod Eagle styles, without going into Aggressor Uberness.

[General Melchet]

Dunc, I used fans and ramp details from an old Academy 1/48th SU-27 kit, though you can use the cheapy Kitech version just as easily..(I bought 3 of them for a tenner from Bruntingthorpe just for spare parts last year)....

Behind that is NATO black painted card dropped in to add shadowed background, then ramps again made from thin card, second set of ramps further back were then added before light Promodeller wash to give the fans depth.

[Cobra]

Great Job,General Thank You bringing to Life the Escort for the Valkyrie!!!!!! any plans on How You're going to Paint & Decal this Sweetie??? Can't wait to see More!!!!!!!

[General Melchet]

Dunc just rub ointment on it....the sensation will pass!!..................now go get the Flanker, (but for Gawds sake don't tell Geoff )...

Cobra, as it's to go with the Valkyrie it's going to be an FIS aircraft finished in ADC grey with 16th FIS, (checkerboard tail markings) and loads of stencils and subtle weathering applied. I have a couple of spare AIM-47s from a YF-12A that I'll fit and new scratch undercarriage that's a lot more accurate than the kits offering..
Should look nice along side the F-103 I did earlier......

[Sisko]

Fantastic stuff mate really looks the goods!

[tigercat2]

So far it looks superb; the 108 was/is one of my favorites.  Have you seen the '108 that Phil Brandt did over on Hyperscale, http://hsfeatures.com/f108pb_1.htm

The detailing in yours looks great.


Wes W.

[General Melchet]

Thanks chaps, Wes, yes I saw that, looks really cool and is quite a size in 1/48th...far too pricey for me, ( if you can get hold of one) and has a fair few issues much like the Ani one!!.still , very cool machine!!!

[Mossie]

Lovely job Andy, looking forward to seeing this one done.  I'm planning something similar with the intakes on my T-4MS, if for no other reason than to hide some of the casting defects on the fans!

If I get on well with the T-4MS, I might look at getting a few more Anigrand kits, this one might well be on the list.  I'm thinking NASA markings, ADC grey or white with orange panels...

[nev]

though a lot of pressure has been applied to do an RAF one !!...

NMF and 111 markings would look good.....

Nice work so far